Cotton-chopper-tool-lifting mechanism.



l zmgam A. R. EAST COTTON CHOPPER TOOL LIFTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-10.1917.

Patented Jan. 8,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVEJV' TOR.

A. R. EAST.

COTTON CHOPPER TOOL LIFTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, l9l7.'

lfi fimo Patented Jan. s, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

1.7V VEN TOR.

ATTORW'EY.

grain erase an eer e.

ABTEUB a. EAsr, or DELIA, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF ro J. snoxnalyl. or

' I- S Q r-"an TEXAS-*I e cor'roN-o IoPrER-troonmmnve MEcHANrsi/i.

Original application filed April 24, 1917, Serial No. 164,137. Divided and this application filed September Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 8, 1918.

10; 1917. Serial n. 199,459.,

, 1917, Serial Number 16l,137.'

.The particular feature embodied in the invention is a hand andfootlifting mechanism capable of independent operation whereby either the hand or the foot operations may be performed, and the tools or hoes either lifted without disturbing their fixed adjustment or their elevation adjusted as desired. I

In carrying out the invention a pair of lifting members are connected with the hoe shaft, one of these members supporting the shaft and the other being idle. The supporting member has flexible connection with a hand adjusting lever which controls the fixed elevation of the hoe shaft; while the idle member has connection with a foot lever which is free to swing. The flexible connection permits the foot lever to be depressed and the hoe shaft lifted without a1- tering the elevation of the same.

The invention will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is illustrated and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of a machine embodying the invention, portions of the machine being omitted and other portions being illustrated in section and in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a detail of one of the hoes, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a U-shaped frame having bearing boxes 2 in which an axle 3 is rotatably confined, said axle being mounted in ground wheels 4 in the usual manner. At the central portion of the axle a friction gear disk 5 is keyed to slide laterally into contact with a friction pinion 6 keyed to slide on a hoe shaft 7. A tension spring 8 is coiled about the axle between the hub of the disk and a tension collar 9 rotatably mounted on the axle and having inclined teeth or lugs meshing with similar teeth of a bearing sleeve 10. i The sleeve lO is' fastened to one endof a yoke 11 which has another sleeve 12 at its other end,b,oth of said sleeves-being loosely confined on the axle, but held against lateral displacement. An arm l3-proje cts from-the collar 9 by which it maybe rocked for displacing said collar and compressing the spring 8.

b An arch bracket 14 is fixed on the yoke and inclines upwardly therefrom as is :best shown in Fig. 1. "Aflocking'segment 15 ;i's mounted on this bracket-and has pivoted thereon a. bell-crank ,jadjii'sting lever 16 which has connection from its short leg with the arm 13 by means of a link'17. By means of this handlever thecollar may berocked. Another-locking segment 18 is mounted on this bracket and has a hand lever 19 pivoted thereon intermediate its ends. The low depending end of said lever has connection with a'shifting rod 20 mountedjover the hoe in ears 21 on the .V oke. This rod carries a shifting-fork 22 sti addling the pin- 6. B acheth -len l r .l i-i pinion may be adjusted laterally of the disk 5 and the gear ratio varied.

The hoe shaft 7 extends through a shaftsleeve 23 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. One end of the sleeve 23 is confined in a collar 24: on the yoke 11 and the other end abuts the hub of a hoe spider 25. Intermediate the ends of the sleeve a collar 26 is clamped thereon. This collar is suspended by a link 27 depending from the end of an arm mounted on a transverse shaft 29 arranged to rock in bearing boxes 30 mounted on the frame 1. By rocking this shaft the sleeve 23 carrying the hoe shaft and the yoke are either swung up or down. On the spider 25 hoe-shanks 31 are fastened. In Fig. 2 is shown the angle at which each hoe is mounted. This causes the hoe to enter and leave the ground gradually, the point of the hoe entering first. The hoe blade 33 is suitably fastened on the shank.

The chopping mechanism which is supported by the link 27 from the arm 28 may be adjusted vertically at will. For rocking the shaft 29 an arm 42 is adjustably fastened on the shaft. A chain or other flexible connection 43 extends from the upper end of .other side of the frame.

the arm to a hand lever 44 pivoted on a locking segment 45 mounted on the side of the frame 1. By swinging this lever the chop the stand was thin or to carryit over an obstruction the driver merely places his foot on the lever 48 and presses the latter clownward, whereby the shaft 29 is rocked and the chopping mechanism lifted. The chain 43 permits this action without disturbing the adjustment of the cutting depth of the hoes.

At the forward end of the frame 1 a tongue 52 is pivoted on an arch support 53 and has its rear end swingable across an adjacent arch support 51. The rear end of the tongue has pivoted connection with a link 5-l pivoted, to a bell-crank lever 58 mounted on a bracket 59 carried by the frame. A pitman 60 extends from the lever 58 to a hand lever 61 pivoted on a segment 62 at the rear portion of the frame. It will be seen that by swinging the lever 61 the rear end of the tongue will be swung and the machine guided.

The foregoing description and illustration clearly express the invention, but it is to be understood that said illustration is merely Another arm 46' an exemplification and the invention may be carried out in various other ways.

\Vhat I claim is: r

1. In a cotton chopper, the combination with a main frame, a driving axle supporting the frame, and ground wheels supporting the axle, of a tool carrying shaft suspended from the frame and radially from the axle longitudinally of the frame, a supporting member carrying the shaft, a rock shaft mounted transversely of the frame and connected with thesupporting member for raising and lowering the same, a foot lever mounted on the frame and having operative connection with the rock shaft for rocking the same, and a hand lever mounted on the frame and having flexible connection with V the rock shaft for-rocking the same, said flexible connection permitting the operation of the foot lever without disturbing the adjustment effected by the hand lever.

- 2. In a cotton chopper, the combination with a frame and a cultivating mechanism mounted to swing thereon, of mechanism for ad ustlng the cultlvatmg mechanism to a fixed elevation to operate at a.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fcommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

